Post by vive123654 on Feb 21, 2014 3:33:50 GMT -5
NEW YORK -- For CC Sabathia, theres no better place to pitch than Yankee Stadium. The big left-hander decided to stay with New York rather than test the free-agent market, agreeing Monday to a new deal that adds $30 million and one season to his existing contract, giving him a package that pays $122 million over the next five years. "My son loves it here. All my kids love it here. My wife loves it here, obviously, and I do, too. I love pitching for the Yankee fans and everything, so it was the easy choice," Sabathia said during a conference call. The 31-year-old had until midnight to opt out of his current agreement, which had $92 million remaining over the next four years in $23 million annual salaries. New York added a $25 million salary for 2016 and gets a $25 million option for 2017 with a $5 million buyout. "It was just more time. Thats all it was. It was never a question about money or anything like that," Sabathia said. "I just want to end my career here. I want to make sure I end my career as a Yankee and, hopefully, Ive done that." Sabathia agreed to a $161 million, seven-year deal with New York before the 2009 season. He has gone 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA during the regular season for the Yankees. Sabathia headed a staff that included rookie Ivan Nova, injury prone Phil Hughes, inconsistent A.J. Burnett and surprise additions Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon. Without Sabathia, the Yankees rotation would have been in trouble. "CC is the ace of our pitching staff, a leader in our clubhouse and a driving force for the Yankees in our community," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said in a statement. "He is exactly the type player and person that Yankees fans and this organization can be proud of. We are excited that he will be wearing the pinstripes for many years to come." When he signed with the Yankees after pitching for Cleveland (2001-08) and Milwaukee (2008), Sabathia moved his family from California, where he grew up in Vallejo, to Alpine, N.J. He said the key for him was his family "and making sure everything was kosher with them" with living in the New York area. Then he learned what it was like pitching in the $1.5 billion new Yankee Stadium. "The energy, what you get coming out the bullpen, the fans," he said. "Everything it is it is to be pitching in New York, in the Bronx. Its just so much fun. To be part of this organization is just a dream for me." Sabathias option becomes guaranteed if he does not end the 2016 season on the disabled list because of a left shoulder injury, does not spend more than 45 days of 2016 on the DL with a left shoulder injury or does not make six or more relief appearances in 2016 because of shoulder issues. He retains a hotel suite on trips, a no-trade provision and the right to buy tickets. Listed by the Yankees as 290 pounds, Sabathia lost weight going into spring training but appeared to gain it back this season. He went 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA but was 0-1 in his last three starts, then didnt get a decision in two post-season starts and allowed a key run in Game 5 against Detroit, when he made his first career relief appearance and New York was eliminated with a 3-2 loss. He plans on losing weight. "Its something I do regardless, and be proactive," he said. "I just need to go out and be healthy and try to do what I can to be up there for every start for this team. For me, that means losing weight, so thats what Ill do." Vincent Lecavalier Team Canada Jersey . Hall was injured in the first period and did not come out to the bench for the start of the second. The team stated that he will miss the remainder of the game. Mike Richards Team Canada Jersey . Boychuk, 23, appeared in the Hurricanes season opener against the Florida Panthers and has been a healthy scratch the past four games. www.officialcateamhockeyjersey.com/canada-hockey-jamie-benn-olympic-jersey/ .J. -- Ernie Els sure didnt look to be down in the dumps for someone who has tumbled so far in the FedEx Cup. Corey Perry Olympic Jersey . Now is one of those times. Mauer had another four hits and three RBIs to lead the Twins to an 8-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. "Ive seen him hit his whole career," Gardenhire said. Claude Giroux Jersey . Since Im the first one to emphasize that overall statistics (or standings) are not necessarily representative of the current value for a team, especially with respect to injuries, these statistics merely provide a baseline for the series, perhaps providing an idea what a team needs to do in order to emerge victorious. NEW ORLEANS -- Two nights after having their streak snapped, LeBron James and the Miami Heat looked ready to start a new run. James scored 36 points, hitting six consecutive 3-pointers in less than six minutes during the first half, and the Miami Heat rebounded from their first loss in nearly two months to beat the New Orleans Hornets 108-89 on Friday night. The Heat, whose 27-game winning streak ended in Chicago on Wednesday, clinched the top seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs. James kept shooting 3-pointers after making his first one with 1:55 left in the first quarter, and he did not miss until he already had set a season high with his sixth. "It was one of those nights, so I just kept it going," James said. "We had a three-on-one break and Mike passed to me, and I stopped for a 3. I hadnt done that probably since high school or the early years with Cleveland. I felt good. Just tried to keep the Heat wave going." James finished with seven 3s -- one shy of his career high -- as the crowd at the New Orleans Arena cheered louder and louder after giving him a mixed reception before the game. Dwyane Wade added 17 points and seven assists for the Heat. Norris Cole scored 12 points and Chris Bosh 10. But James was the show after drawing fire for complaining about what he thought were a couple of unnecessarily hard fouls by Chicago. He shrugged off criticism from the Bulls Taj Gibson and Boston general manager Danny Ainge, who said he should not have complained about the fouls on Wednesday, then slammed the door on the Hornets. "To hear boos during the name announcements and then to turn the crowd around and make it almost like a home game is really humbling," he said. "Its unbelievable to be part of something like that." After his fifth 3, which gave the Heat a 42-27 lead, he walked by himself along the side of the court, raising his arm over his head to ask for applause, which he received along with a smattering of boos. "That was my appreciation," he said of his gesture. "I was letting them know I heard them." Most of his 3s were face-up shots from a few feet behind the arc when no one challenged him, respecting his driving ability. The last was a pull-up from the side with no space, as if he wanted to find out exactly how hot he was. Nothing but net. He finally missed two in a row on the Heats next possession, but they were leading 47-27 by then. "Im glad I was on the bench," said Wade, who sat out during James torrid stretch. "I had a chance to watch the show. When any player gets going like that, its phenomenal." Ryan Anderson had 20 points off the bench for the Hornets. Eric Gordon scored 17, and Al-Farouq Aminu tied his career high with 16 rebounds. James also hit a pair of jumpers during his hot streak, scoring a seeason-high 28 points in the first half as Miami went ahead 60-43.ddddddddddddHis teammates were nearly as hot. The Heat shot a season-best 69.7 per cent for any half, hitting 23 of 33 shots, and their 60.9 per cent for the game was their highest of the year, too, and the highest allowed by the Hornets. Miami made 14 of 27 3-pointers. Miami led by as many as 27 points in the second half, and New Orleans never came closer than the halftime margin of 17. James was content to distribute, throwing a perfect pass to Bosh for an alley-oop that capped a 10-2 run at the start of the third quarter. "Its maturity," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. The Hornets were up 11-9 when rookie Anthony Davis drove the baseline and lost the ball on the way up for what would have been an uncontested dunk. He was called for travelling when he retrieved it on the other side of the rim, and nothing went right for New Orleans the rest of the way. Bosh banked in a shot unintentionally to tie the score at 11. Wade put the Heat ahead for good with two free throws. Ray Allen sank a turnaround jumper from the baseline. Bosh faked an outside shot and drove for an easy layup. Miami, coming off the streak-busting loss to Chicago and getting ready to play at Western Conference-leading San Antonio on Sunday, already led 25-15 when James took over. "We came out with the right mentality, very professional," Wade said. "It would have been easy to come out and just lay an egg tonight, but we came out with great intensity and focus." New Orleans, playing without starting point guard Greivis Vasquez for the second time in three games, committed 19 turnovers. Rookie Brian Roberts had doubled his career high with 18 assists in place of Vasquez on Monday, but only five this time. Davis was in foul trouble early, scoring 11 points. The only person in the building who wasnt awed by James performance might have been Hornets coach Monty Williams. Asked if James reminded him of Michael Jordan, whom Williams faced as a player in the 1990s, Williams pointed to the Hornets inexperience. "Jordan played against men," Williams said. "LeBron plays against young boys. Thats the difference." NOTES: Heat point guard Mario Chalmers missed his first game of the season with a sprained right ankle, with Mike Miller replacing him in the starting lineup. "His (Chalmers) injury isnt a major concern right now, but his ankle is a bit swollen and we want to stay proactive and give him a rest tonight," Spoelstra said. "Well evaluate him tomorrow." ... Vasquez tried to return against the Clippers on Wednesday but was ineffective, going scoreless and missing both of his shots while playing 28 minutes. ... The previous high shooting percentage for a Hornets opponent was .580 by Minnesota on Feb. 2. ' ' '